Patterns of occupational engagement among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: An exploratory mixed method study
Date
2021-05-04Author
Koh, Wei Qi
Chia, Yuan Lin
Wen Xu, Lim
Lim, Fiona Y Q
Cheung, Therma W C
Metadata
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Recommended Citation
Koh, Wei Qi, Chia, Yuan Lin, Ng, Wen Xu, Lim, Fiona Y Q, & Cheung, Therma W C. (2022). Patterns of occupational engagement among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: An exploratory mixed method study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 85(1), 68-77. doi:10.1177/03080226211008048
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Abstract
Introduction
The aim of this study is to understand the patterns of occupations among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. The objectives are to describe their occupational engagement using the Activity Card Sort Singapore, understand their occupational preferences and perceived barriers and facilitators to engagement.
Methods
A convergent parallel mixed-method study was conducted over a 5-month period in 2018. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit the participants. Individual 1-h interviews were conducted at participants’ homes. Quantitative data collected include demographic information, Modified Barthel Index scores and activity engagement based on the Activity Card Sort Singapore. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews.
Results
105 participants were enrolled in the study. Overall, older adults engaged mostly in instrumental and social activities. However, leisure and social activities were most preferred. Gender, educational level and age were found to influence occupational engagement. Overall, six main themes relating to perceived barriers and facilitators to occupational engagement were identified: cognition and physical status, self-efficacy, resources, affect and meaningfulness, social influence and environmental factors.
Conclusion
The findings from this study provided insights into the occupational patterns of community-dwelling older adults in Singapore and their perceived barriers and facilitators to engagement. Recommendations for practice were identified.